Ghost Light: Reclaiming Theater in the Age of AIDS

After every theatrical performance, a single work light is placed on the darkened stage. Although it has practical purposes, we also leave it for the souls who inhabit the theater. It is called the ghost light.

Ghost Lights: Reclaiming Theater in the Age of AIDS, an eight-part television documentary series, examines the impact of the AIDS crisis on the theater industry and community. It focuses on some of the 1,000+ theater artists felled by AIDS: telling their stories, showcasing their works, and inspiring new generations of artists who’ve lost mentors and guidance. It is not too late for these wonderfully creative lights to make at least part of their impact.

Episodes one through seven explore the first two decades of AIDS in the theater. Our final episode looks at today—how far we’ve come, what’s left to do, and how best to bring that heritage to a new generation. We’ll film the staging of lost or forgotten pieces by artists who perished from AIDS, from a missing masterpiece of Michael Bennett’s to an unpublished monologue by John C. Russell. We’ll also document the process of a NYC theater school mounting a classic AIDS drama which will weave throughout the episodes, bringing the documentary into the present and offering a living legacy.

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) advocates for equality in the moving image industry and supports women in every stage of their careers. As the preeminent entertainment industry association for women in New York, NYWIFT energizes women by illuminating their achievements, presenting training and professional development programs, awarding scholarships and grants, and providing access to a supportive community of peers.